Lessons Learned from Two Soilshop Events in Stevens Point, WI and Chicago, IL.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has created a toolkit called “soilSHOP” (Soil Screening, Health, Outreach and Partnership) to help people learn if their soil is contaminated with lead, and how to reduce exposures to contaminated soil. Our presentation highlights two unique and different case study applications of the soilSHOP toolkit.

In the first case study, students in the Urban Soils course at University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point designed and conducted a soilSHOP for residents in the Stevens Point community. The students selected the parameters (texture, structure, aggregate stability, organic matter, pH, electrical conductivity, nitrate and lead), created the methodology, provided interpretations for the on-site soil quality screening and handled all logistical and public relations activities to host the event.. About 100 community members brought in soil samples for soil quality screening. The students screened the samples and met with each client for interpretation. Students also organized educational talks for participants to attend while samples were being analyzed.

In the second case study, faculty and students in the Department of Environmental Science and Studies, Department of Health Sciences, and the Masters of Public Health Program at DePaul University in Chicago, designed and conducted a soilSHOP in collaboration with the not-for-profit organization BUILD-Chicago, located in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. Austin is a low-income minority community characterized by a high percentage of children under the age of six years with elevated blood lead levels. Austin residents brought in tapwater and soil samples for onsite lead testing. DePaul MPH and health sciences students and faculty interpreted and explained the testing data to the participants with respect to their potential exposure to lead in their soil and tap water. Participants were given a survey to measure risk assessment in relation to environmental lead exposure, including their knowledge about lead contaminated soil.